Decide how long you want to be gone. This not only gives you an idea of what you have time to see, but it gives you an idea of when you need to turn back and head home. Since you're starting in Aurora, you'll need to journey over to Chicago where Route 66 starts.
Gather your troops. An important part of planning any road trip is deciding who is going to go. To make sure everyone has a good time, include your entire group in the decision making for the trip like destinations and hotels.
Decide what you want to see. Decide which of the many attractions on Route 66 you want to take the time to see. In the Illinois area alone you can see the first Dairy Queen and the nation's oldest operating gas station. The Illinoisroute66.org website shows you more Illinois attractions to see.
Decide where you want to stay. This will be determined by how far you want to travel. Plan your route as accurately as possible so you can book your motels before you begin the trip. A quick Internet search will present you with a great deal of mom-and-pop motels that line Route 66 itself. The Legendsofamerica.com website is a good place to start your online search.
Estimate how much money you'll need to complete the trip. Determine how much money to spend on each meal and how many meals a day you plan to eat. If you pre-book your lodging arrangements, you'll probably use a credit card to pay. With gas prices rising, you'll probably want to consider taking a vehicle with good gas mileage.
